Combination paint cup and filler for spray guns



Sept. 17, 1968 L. G. MORRISON 3,401,842

COMBINATION PAINT CUP AND FILLER FOR SPRAY GUNS Filed Nov. 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 /4 l 2/ 24 2 l 42 I5 Sept. 17,- 1968 L. e. MORRISON COMBINATION PAINT CUP AND FILLER FOR SPRAY GUNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV- 28, 1966 INVENTOR. 4 E5 rse G MdEQ/SO/V, Maw/a0 ;41 4

United States Patent M 3,401,842 COMBINATION PAINT CUP AND FILLER FOR SPRAY GUNS Lester G. Morrison, West Palm Beach, Fla., assignor to Betty L. Morrison, West Palm Beach, Fla. Filed Nov. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 597,470 8 Claims. (Cl. 222181) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Paint receptacle for a spraying assembly employing a disposable inner paint cup. The receptacle has a clamping cover provided with an outlet conduit, the cover exerting sealing pressure on the peripheral channel-shaped rim of an inner cover on the inner paint cup. The clamping means for the covers includes a bail having notched arms and diametrically-opposite pins on the receptacle engaged by the notched arms. The inner cover has diametrically-opposite notched depending tabs lockingly-engageable with the pins to ensure correct positioning of the inner cover on the rim of the inner cup.

This invention relates to paint receptacles, and more particularly to an improved disposable paint cup for use in the paint supply receptacle employed with a paintspraying nozzle.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved disposable filler or cup element for use with the paint supply container employed with a paint-spraying nozzle, the improved cup or liner being simple in construction, being easy to install, and providing a substantially leak-proof enclosure for the paint contained therein, thereby insuring economical and efficient utilization of the paint.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved paint cup assembly for use with a paint-spraying nozzle, said assembly including a disposable filler element which can be readily changed, as required, for example, for changing over from one paint color to another, the disposable filler element being inexpensive to fabricate, being substantially leak-proof, being easy to handle, and preventing waste of paint, whereby the improved assembly provides more efficient and economical distribution and utilization of paint, as well as reducing the amount of time and effort required to clean the paint-spraying equipment after use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the components of an improved paint receptacle assembly for use with a spray nozzle, said assembly being constructed in accordance with the present invention, the parts thereof being shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the paint-supply assembly of FIGURE 1, shown operatively-connected to a paint-spraying nozzle.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail view taken vertically through a top corner portion of the assembly of FIGURE 2 and including one of the cover-locking pins and associated structure.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing a paint-supply receptacle according to the present invention employing a modified form of disposable :filler or cup element therein.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the modified disposable filler or cup element of FIGURE 4, shown in collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to 3,401,842 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, 11 generally designates a conventional paint spray-nozzle and 12 generally designates a 1 paint cup assembly adapted to be employed with the nozzle 11 and including one form of an improved disposable paint filler cup constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The paint cup assembly 12 comprises a rigid main receptacle or housing member 13 of metal or other suitable rigid material having a top cover 14 of similar rigid material, such as metal, or the like. The rigid main receptacle or can 13 may be generally cylindrical in shape, and is provided at its top marginal portion with outwardly-projecting diametrically-opposed locking pins 15, 15 which are rigidly-secured to the member 13 in any suitable manner, for example, by being riveted thereto in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. Each pin 15 is provided with an external collar portion 16, as is clearly shown in FIG- URES 1 and 3.

The nozzle 11 is connected by a union nut 17 to a vertical conduit member 18 which is mounted in the central portion of an arcuately-curved rigid bail member 19 provided at its opposite ends with depending locking arms 20, 20 having respective horizontally-extending slots or notches 21 in their lower end portions which are lockinglyengageable with the diametricallyopposed pins 15, 15, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the bail member 19 has the ring-shaped central portion 22 in which the shank of the conduit member 18 is seated, the conduit member being formed to define a downwardly-facing annular abutment shoulder 23 engageable on the ring portion 22.

Conduit 18 is provided with a hexagonal somewhat reduced intermediate portion 60 slidably and non-rotatablyfitting into a correspondingly-shaped aperture provided in the central ring portion 22 of bail member 19, Below the hexagonal portion 60 there is provided the reduced cylindrical portion 24 on which is rotatablyengaged a camming ring 25 provided with an outwardly-projecting operating handle 26, the camming ring 25 being generally helical and cooperating with a correspondinglyformed helical shoulder 61 on the underside of the bail ring 22.

The cylindrical portion 24 is provided with the depending externally-threaded reduced lower end portion 27 on which is mounted a washer 28 and a clamping nut 29. Portion 27 extends through a central aperture provided in the rigid cover 14 and the conduit 18 is clamped thereby by means of the nut 29 and washer 28.

The cover 14 is clamped on the main receptacle 13 by engaging the notches 21 of arms 20 with the pins 15, 15 and rotating the handle 26 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, thereby causing the ring 25 to wedgingly cooperate with the helical shoulder 61, elevating the bail member 19 relative to the cover 14 and developing tension in the locking arms 20. 20, whereby said arms are locked to the pins 15, 15 at the notches 21 thereof. Conversely, the cover 14 may be released from the main receptacle 13 by rotating the operating handle 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to release the tension on the arms 20, 20.

Rigidly-connected to the conduit element 18 and depending therethrough is an intake tube 29 terminating with the downwardly and laterally-inclined intake bottom portion 30. Secured on the upper portion of the tube 29 is a seal- -ing collar 31 of rubber or similar resilient deformable sealing material.

Designated at 32 is a disposable paint cup of paper, plastic, or other similar deformable inexpensive and disposable material, the cup 32 fitting into the main paint container 13 and being provided at its top rim with a head or flange 33 engageable on the top rim of the rigid main container 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. The upper marginal portion of cup 32 is formed with the annular channeled portion 34 immediately below the bead 33, as shown in FIGURE 3. Designated at 35 is a cover member of the same material as cup 32, or of any other suitable deformable inexpensive disposable material, such as paper, plastic, or the like. The cover 35 is generally circular in shape and is dished downwardly, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, being provided with the downwardly-facing channel-shaped anular rim flange 36 engageable over the bead 33 in the manner shown in FIG- URE 3. The cover 35 may be further provided with the annular outwardly-projecting locking rib 37 which is lockingly-engageable in the inwardly-facing annular channel 34 of the cup 32 when the cover is placed on the top rim of the cup, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

As is further shown in FIGURE 3, the rigid receptacle cover .14 is provided with a peripheral depending flange 38 engageable over the outer portion of the annular channel 36 to lock said annular channel on the bead 33 and to clamp said bead and annular channel against the top rim of the rigid main housing 13.

The cover 35 is integrally-formed with the diametrically-opposed depending locking tabs 39, 39 having horizontal slots or notches 40 and being substantially registrable with the notched depending arms 20, 20 of bail member 19. Thus, the notches 40 of the tabs 39 may be engaged on the locking pins with the tabs received adjacent to the collars 16 of the pins, as shown in FIG- URE 3.

In using the cup assembly, a filler cup 32 containing paint of the desired color is inserted in the main receptacle 13 and the cover 35 is then placed thereover with the tabs 39 engaged on the pins 15, in the manner abovedescribed. Each cover 35 is provided with a central aperture to receive the conduit 29. Each cover is also provided with a vent aperture 42, as shown in FIGURE 2.

With the paint cup 32 in the receptacle 13 and the cover 35 engaged thereon with its tabs 39 engaging the pins 15, as above-described, the conduit 29 is inserted through the central aperture of the cover 35 and lowered to bring the rigid main cover 14 into engagement with the channeled rim portion 36 of the cover and is rotated to engage the notches 21 of arms with the pins 15. Thereafter, with the arms 20, 20 lockingly-engaged with the pins 15, 15, and the cover 14 positioned on the annular channeled portion 36 of the inner cover 35, the handle 26 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG- URE l, to develop downward bearing force on cover 14 and to thereby develop upward tension on the arms 20, 20, as above-described, to thus lock the rigid cover 14 onto the subjacent elements and to clamp the covered channel 36 and the bead 33 against the top rim of the rigid main container 13. The resiliently-deformable collar element 31, at the same time, sealingly-engages around the central aperture in the disposable inner cover element 35. The paint cup assembly is now in sealed operating condition and the nozzle 11 may be used to dispense the paint, as required.

If it is desired to change the paint color, it is merely necessary to unfasten the cover 14 by rotating the handle 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, which removes the locking tension from the arms 20, 20 allowing the bail 19 to be disengaged from the pins 15, .15 and allowing the upper assembly including the conduit 18 to be disengaged from the paint cup cover 35, name- 1y, allowing the conduit tube 29 to be withdrawn from the central aperture of the cup cover 35, thereby providing access to the original paint filler or cup 32 for removal from the main receptacle 13. Excess paint is removed from the tube 29 as it is withdrawn upwardly through the central aperture of the cover 35, since the central aperture of the cover fits rather closely around the tube 29. The original paint cup or filler 32 and its cover 35 are then removed from the receptacle 13 and a new paint cup or filler 32 and its cover 35 are inserted in main receptacle 13 in place of the original cup. The tube 29 is then engaged through the central aperture of the cover 35 of the new cup and the parts are locked together in the manner above-described to seal the new paint cup or filler 32 in the assembly with the arms 20, 20 locked to the pins 15, 15. Thereafter, the nozzle 11 may be operated sufiiciently to remove the residual amount of original paint remaining therein, after which the new paint will begin to flow through the nozzle. Painting can then be resumed, with the new paint color.

The only cleaning required of the nozzle 11 is that at the end of the total painting operation, at which time the nozzle may be cleaned by employing suitable paint thinner in a disposable paper cup 32 and flowing the thinner through the nozzle to remove the residual previously-employed paint therefrom.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the main container is shown at 13 and comprises a main receptacle portion 46 having a reduced neck portion 47 provided with the diametrically-opposed, outwardly-projecting locking pins .15, 15, similar to those employed in the embodiment of FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The disposable paint filler or cup comprises a collapsible bag 48 of plastic, paper, or other suitable deformable material having thickened opposite top marginal hem portions 49, 49 provided with central apertures 50, 50. The bag 48 fits into the neck 47 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 and the top marginal portion of the bag may be folded outwardly and over the top rim of the neck portion 47, the locking pins 15, 15 being receivable in the supporting apertures 50, 50 of thickened portions 49 of the bag. The bag is adapted to contain the desired color of paint. A top cover 35 is provided, similar to that employed in the modification of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the channeled rim 36 of said top cover fitting over the outwardly-folded top marginal portion of bag 48 and receiving same therein. The tube 29 is engageable through the central aperture of the top cover 35 in the same manner as previously-described, and the top portion of the assembly connected to conduit 18 may be locked to the receptacle 13 in the same manner as above-described with the notches 40 of cover 35 engaged on the pins 15 and with the notches 21 of arms 20 likewise engaged on said pins. New paint colors may be substituted for previouslyused paint colors by the procedure described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, except that new bags 48 and covers 35 will be employed for the substituted new paint colors.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved paint receptacle for use with a paint-spraying nozzle have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A paint receptacle comprising a rigid main housing member having a pair of diametrically-opposed outwardly-extending locking projections, .a rigid main cover member engageable over the top edge of said housing member, a conduit secured centrally in said rigid main cover member, said conduit being adapted to be connected to a paint spray nozzle, a bail member movably-monnted on said conduit and having depending end arms respectively lockingly-engageable with said locking projections, means to exert upward thrust on said ball member relative to said rigid cover member to place locking tension on said end arms and to urge the rigid main cover member downwardly toward clamping engagement on the top edge of the main housing member, an inner receptacle of relatively deformable material disposed inside said main housing member and having a top marginal sealing portion engaging peripherally on the top edge of the main housing member, an inner cover member of relatively deformable material in the top portion of said inner receptacle, said conduit being provided with intake means extending sealingly through said inner cover member, downwardly-facing channeled peripheral rim means on said inner cover member receiving said top marginal sealing portion and said top edge of the main housing member and being clampingly-engageable by said rigid main cover member, and a pair of diametrically-opposed integral depending tab elements on said peripheral rim means registering with said depending end arms and having hori- Zontally-extending notches receiving and being lockinglyengageable with said projections.

2. A paint receptacle comprising a rigid main housing member having a pair of diametrically-opposed outwardly-extending locking projections, a rigid main cover member engageable over the top edge of said housing member, a conduit secured centrally in said rigid main cover member, said conduit being adapted to be connected to a paint spray nozzle, a bail member movably-mounted on said conduit and having depending end arms respectively lockingly-engageable with said locking projections, means to exert upward thrust on said bail member relative to said rigid cover member to place locking tension on said end arms and to urge the rigid main cover member downwardly toward clamping engagement on the top edge of downwardly-facing channeled peripheral rib means on said inner cover member receiving said top marginal sealing portion and said top edge of the main housing member and being clampingly-engageable by said rigid main cover member, wherein said inner receptacle comprises a collapsible bag having an outwardly-foldable top margin, and wherein said outwardly-foldable top margin is formed with supporting apertures engageable over said projections.

3. The paint receptacle of claim 1, and wherein said intake means comprises an intake tube extending through said inner cover member, and sealing means on the intake tube sealingly-engaging said inner cover member.

4. The paint receptacle of claim 3, and wherein said sealing means comprises a resiliently-deformable collar element secured on the intake tube and bearing sealingly on said inner cover member.

5. The paint receptacle of claim 1, and wherein the top marginal sealing portion comprises a peripheral bead formed on the top edge of said inner receptacle.

6. The paint receptacle of claim 1, and wherein said inner receptacle comprises a collapsible bag having an outwardly-foldable top margin.

7. The paint receptacle of claim 1, and wherein said rigid main cover member is provided with a depending peripheral flange engageable with the outer wall surface of said channeled peripheral rim means.

8. The paint receptacle of claim 7, and wherein said bail member is slidably and non-rotatably-mounted on said conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,()5l,5l8 8/1936 Cunningham 222-325 2,l77,()32 10/1939 Baumgardner 222386.5 2,670,882 3/1954 Best 222-464 3,086,675 4/1963 Clark 220- X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Exan'ziner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

